Self-Tape and Auditions (Online)
Looking to start getting paid acting work but not sure where to start? Perhaps you want to improve your self-tape or audition technique?
This short online course is perfect to help you become professional in your approach and start securing second round auditions and parts!
Self-tapes are now the industry standard for first-round auditions, and knowing how to approach them with professionalism and confidence can give you a major edge.
This online course in Self-Tape and Audition Technique is designed to help actors stand out in auditions, build resilience, and make a lasting impression.
Whether you’re brand new to self-tapes or want to sharpen your existing approach, this course gives you practical tools and insider insight to help you stand out.
You’ll be guided by professional director and acting coach Jake Norton, who has worked extensively in film, TV, and theatre. With a mix of engaging videos, actionable tips, and a final self-tape submission for personalised feedback, this course is ideal for actors who want to work smarter and feel more confident in their audition game.
Here’s What You'll Learn…
✅ Getting Started: You’ll receive a warm welcome to the course by Clare Cairns as she shares her top tips for getting the most out of your learning.
✅ Self-Tape Techniques: Get started with everything you need to know about self-tapes, including lighting, sound, framing, performance, and preparation. Jake shares what casting directors really look for and how to make your self-tapes feel both professional and authentic, using the tools you already have at home.
✅ The Art of Auditioning: Auditions can be intimidating but they don’t have to be. Jake opens up about his own journey (and mistakes!) as he walks you through the real-life skills you need for auditions. From handling nerves to staying grounded in rejection, this module is about developing both technique and resilience.
✅ Responding to the Casting Brief: This module will show you how to read and respond to casting briefs with clarity and creativity. You’ll learn how to interpret the brief, make bold but appropriate choices, and stand out without second-guessing yourself. Because even if you’re not right for this role, you might be perfect for the next one.
✅ Navigating the Industry: Let’s talk business. In this module, Jake gives you a real-world overview of how to build a career, not just book a job. Explore your personal brand, how to approach agents, and the mindset shift that can help you build a sustainable, confident presence in the acting world.
✅ Submit Your Self-Tape for Feedback: You’ve learned the skills, now it’s time to put them into practice. For your final task, you’ll submit a self-tape audition to one of our acting coaches or industry professionals. You’ll receive personalised feedback to help you understand your strengths, your next steps, and how to keep developing your audition craft.
Cost: £97.00
(for the whole course including personalised feedback)
Why Choose Us?
✔️ Study online, in your own time, from anywhere
✔️ Perfect for emerging actors, drama school students, or those returning to the industry
✔️ Built around real-world industry standards
✔️ Feedback from professionals who understand the casting process inside out
✔️ Boost your confidence, sharpen your technique, and increase your chances of getting seen
Ready to improve your auditions and start getting paid acting work?
How Does it Work?
All your content in the program curriculum is accessible through an exclusive, easy to follow, private membership portal via The Professional Performance Association.
You have access to your course 24 hours a day/7 days a week.
You just log in whenever you are ready to start, in your own time and your own space.
The training is delivered via videos, PDFS, workbook resources and feedback submissions.
The portal can also easily be accessed via your phone too.
Are you ready to start acting?
Join our Self-Tape and Auditions Online Course and take the first step toward discovering your potential as an actor.
Online Self-Tape & Auditions Course: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best online self-tape course for actors in the UK?
The Self-Tape & Auditions Online Course from Acting Out Drama School (AODS) helps actors develop the practical skills and professional approach needed for recorded auditions. Designed for both emerging actors and those looking to improve their existing technique, the course covers self-tape preparation, lighting, sound, framing, performance, audition nerves, casting briefs and the realities of working in the acting industry.
The course is led by professional director and acting coach Jake Norton and Multi-Award-Winning Creative Arts Director, Clare Cairns, who shares practical advice and industry insight. You’ll also complete a final self-tape audition and receive personalised feedback from an acting coach or industry professional. You can study online, in your own time, from anywhere.
How do I film a professional self-tape audition at home?
To film a strong self-tape audition at home, you need clear sound, suitable lighting, appropriate framing and a focused, believable performance. You should also understand the casting brief, prepare your material carefully and follow the submission instructions provided.
The AODS Self-Tape & Auditions Course guides you through the technical and performance aspects of creating a self-tape using equipment you already have at home. You’ll learn how to approach your recording professionally while keeping your performance authentic and connected to the character.
What do casting directors look for in a self-tape audition?
Casting directors need to see a performance that responds to the brief, demonstrates believable character choices and allows them to focus on the actor rather than distracting technical problems. Clear sound, appropriate framing, good preparation and a considered interpretation of the material can all help your self-tape communicate effectively.
The AODS course explores what makes a self-tape effective, including how to prepare your performance, make appropriate creative choices and present your work professionally. The aim is to help you make informed decisions about your audition rather than rely on guesswork.
Do I need professional equipment to make a self-tape audition?
No. You can create a self-tape at home without investing in an expensive camera or professional studio. What matters is understanding how to make the best use of your available space and equipment, particularly when it comes to lighting, sound, framing and the quality of your performance.
The AODS Self-Tape & Auditions Course introduces practical techniques you can use with equipment you already have. You’ll learn how to approach your recordings more confidently and understand the technical considerations that help your performance come across clearly.
How can I get better at acting auditions?
Improving your audition technique involves more than learning lines. You need to interpret the casting brief, prepare your character, make clear performance choices, manage nerves, respond to direction where appropriate and remain resilient when an audition does not lead to a role.
The AODS Self-Tape & Auditions Course covers practical audition preparation, responding to casting briefs, handling rejection and developing a more professional approach to the audition process. You’ll also put your learning into practice through a final self-tape submission, with personalised feedback to help you identify strengths and areas for further development.
How do I respond to a casting brief?
Start by reading the casting brief carefully and identifying the character requirements, tone, context, performance instructions and submission requirements. Consider what the scene tells you about the character and what choices could bring the material to life. Your interpretation should be creative and specific while remaining appropriate to the brief.
In the AODS Self-Tape & Auditions Course, you’ll learn how to interpret casting briefs with greater clarity and confidence, make considered performance choices and avoid second-guessing every decision. This helps you approach auditions as an actor who has prepared thoughtfully and understands the material.
How can I overcome nerves before an acting audition?
Feeling nervous before an audition is common, particularly when you care about the opportunity or are still developing your experience. Preparation can help you feel more grounded, but it is also useful to develop a healthier relationship with uncertainty, rejection and the fact that you cannot control every casting decision.
The AODS Self-Tape & Auditions Course explores practical audition skills alongside confidence and resilience. You’ll learn strategies for approaching auditions more professionally, managing nerves and continuing to develop your craft even when an audition does not result in a booking.
Does the Self-Tape & Auditions Course include personal feedback?
Yes. The course includes a final practical task in which you submit a self-tape audition to an AODS acting coach or industry professional. You’ll receive personalised feedback on your work, helping you understand your strengths, identify areas for improvement and consider your next steps as an actor.
Please allow approximately two to three weeks for feedback to be produced. AODS aims to return it as soon as possible.
Can beginners take an online self-tape and audition course?
Yes. The AODS Self-Tape & Auditions Course is suitable for actors who are new to self-taping as well as those who already have some experience and want to improve their approach. It introduces the practical and professional considerations involved in recorded auditions, making it a useful option if you are beginning to explore acting opportunities or want to feel better prepared when auditioning.
If you have never acted before and would prefer to start with broader acting fundamentals, you may wish to begin with the Online Beginners Acting Course. If your main goal is to improve audition preparation and self-taping, this specialist course may be the more direct starting point.
Can I study self-tape and audition technique online at my own pace?
Yes. The AODS Self-Tape & Auditions Course is delivered through an online learning portal that you can access 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can work through the video lessons, PDFs and workbook resources at a time that suits you, without attending a weekly in-person class.
The course is accessible from your phone as well as other suitable devices, allowing you to learn from home or wherever you choose to study. You can then put your learning into practice through the final self-tape task and receive personalised professional feedback.
Will this course help me get acting work or pass auditions?
The course is designed to help you improve your preparation, self-tape technique, performance choices and understanding of the audition process. These skills can help you approach auditions more professionally and present your work more effectively.
However, no acting course can guarantee auditions, callbacks, representation or paid acting work. Casting decisions depend on many factors, including suitability for a role, the brief and the needs of a production. AODS focuses on giving you practical tools, industry insight and personalised feedback so you can continue developing your audition skills.
Will this course teach me how to approach agents and build an acting career?
Yes. As well as self-tape and audition technique, the course includes an introduction to navigating the acting industry. You’ll explore topics such as personal branding, approaching agents and developing a more sustainable, professional mindset towards your career.
This wider perspective helps you understand how auditions fit into the bigger picture of building an acting career, rather than treating each audition as an isolated event.
What is the difference between a self-tape course and a screen acting course?
A self-tape course focuses specifically on preparing and recording auditions, interpreting casting briefs, managing the audition process and submitting performances effectively. A screen acting course focuses more broadly on acting for film and television, including working with the camera, developing screen performances and responding to direction.
The AODS Self-Tape & Auditions Course is a focused option if you want to improve recorded auditions and audition technique. If you already have some acting experience and want to develop your on-camera performance skills further, explore the Online Screen Acting Course.
How much does the AODS Self-Tape & Auditions Course cost?
The AODS Self-Tape & Auditions Online Course page currently displays a standard price of £97. The course price includes the training materials and the final self-tape task with personalised feedback.
Please check the course page for the current price and any applicable promotional terms before enrolling.
Where can I take an online self-tape course if I live outside Edinburgh?
You can study the AODS Self-Tape & Auditions Course from anywhere in the UK or internationally, provided you have suitable internet access and a device for viewing the course materials and recording your self-tape. As the course is delivered online, you do not need to travel to Edinburgh or attend weekly classes in person.
Acting Out Drama School is based in Scotland and provides online acting training for adults who want to develop practical skills from home, wherever they are based.
Is there an acting course that can make me a professional actor?
For a more comprehensive acting course that focuses on professional acting training, our Online Acting Diploma Course offers a broader and more structured programme of study, with additional modules and practical assignments. Acting Out Drama School is based in Scotland and provides online acting training for adults who want to develop practical skills from home, wherever they are based but we also offer a hybrid course which is a mixture of online modules and in-person classes. The Professional Acting Course lasts 2 years and is part-time. Our Acting Diploma Course lasts 1 year and is also part time. The Professional Acting Course, The Acting Diploma Course and the Online Acting Diploma Course are all good options for training actors and helping them become professional.
📣 Please note, your feedback from one of our industry professionals can take around 2-3 weeks to produce. We will always get this to you as soon as we can. 📣
